Speaking to Lusa, Francisco Teixeira said that the first students began to arrive at the place where they would gather this Saturday, Largo das Heroínas in Luanda, at 09:00 am and found "a large police apparatus".
According to the president of the MEA, the police ordered the demonstrators to leave the place and, at the insistence of some who wanted to remain, ended up arresting five young people, including the provincial secretary of the organization, Jonas Damião.
"The march was going to take place at 1 pm and we already had around 40 students who dispersed after the police said they could not carry out the demonstration", he added.
The MEA had called for a march, the second of a calendar of five demonstrations in favor of the return to classes in public universities, where professors have been on strike for an indefinite period since February 27th.
Francisco Teixeira claimed that the MEA complied with all legal procedures, informing the Provincial Government of Luanda (GPL) in advance of the intention and disputes the impediment, stating that it will take the matter to the government instances, complaining of threats and restrictions on freedom.
"It is the second attempt at a march boycotted by the GPL in collusion with the police, we know that it is the governor (Manuel Homem) who is also the first secretary of the MPLA who has given guidance so that the marches do not leave", he criticized.
"The MPLA always prevents our demonstrations, we cannot even complain, they do not want us to claim that we want conditions to return to school. Our freedoms are being totally violated", he continued.
Francisco Teixeira stressed that the MEA will continue with the protest plan. "Apart from arrogance and force, there is no reason to prevent us from leaving. We are going to try again, we are going to try to meet with international institutions and with the National Directorate of Human Rights to present our concerns", he underlined.
On February 27, the National Union of Higher Education Teachers (Sinpes) resumed its strike, for an indefinite period, in protest against "miserable wages" and the inversion of the executive's priorities.
"When you can buy 45 vehicles for a total value of 9 million euros, this is a paradox. In a country that intends to be competitive and knowing that knowledge is a lever for growth, there is no political will to increase wages", he told the Lusa the general secretary of Sinpes, Eduardo Peres Alberto, on the occasion.
The trade unionist complained, in the last week, that his residence had been vandalized by strangers, after he and his daughter received anonymous threats, by telephone, for him to "end the strike now", which has lasted for almost two months .
Francisco Teixeira also told Lusa that he was receiving anonymous threats: "There are messages that say that we are being financed to cause confusion".
According to a letter from the MEA, sent to the GPL on April 17, 2023 and to which Lusa had access, the Dábado march would start at Largo das Heroínas and end at Largo 1.º de Maio.
